Driving can often be a pet subject ... and we don’t mean a bunch of nerdy petrolheads discussing the merits of cadence braking down the pub.

As a nation of animal lovers, the pets in question are usually of the four-legged variety. And sharing our motors with them, as we do from time to time, takes some forethought and practical preparation, especially on longer journeys.

Purr-fect passenger

In one instance, though, the pet had its own say on how it travelled. For retired professional George Pharo, car journeys used to start with a quick peek under the bonnet of his Vauxhall Astra. The reason? Not to check on any mechanical concerns, but a feline one.

Because, after a drive to a country pub one evening, George emerged from the hostelry to see a cat sauntering across the car park, one rather like his own, Buster.

As the cat approached he realised it was his pet. But how had he turned up there, miles from home? The answer could only be that Buster had stowed away in the engine compartment. The return journey was an easier one for the unharmed motor-loving moggie, curled up in comfort on the back seat.

It’s fine… so no fine

George was glad to ferry Buster home, but would surely have drawn the line at the furry passenger spotted by police in Russia.

In Yekaterinburg, a driver will not be facing criminal charges for having a brown bear in the back of his car … because the animal was apparently wearing a seatbelt. The police couldn’t believe their eyes when they spotted the beast lounging in the rear of a Volga heading down the road.

Mum’s the word

Another experience of the ursine variety involved a family in Tennessee who awoke to find some bear cubs playing on their silver Lexus SUV and then discovered the reason they wouldn’t leave was because of an uninvited passenger within ­… the mother bear which had got in through the open sun roof.

Safety first

Such behaviour is pretty hard to bear and few, if any, of us will encounter it. But we should take our pets’ travelling arrangements seriously for safety’s sake.

If a motorist is driving at 30 miles per hour, in the case of a collision, an unrestrained average-sized dog weighing approximately 50lbs would be projected forward with a force equal to a baby elephant.

A poll for a breakdown cover company revealed that more than 60 per cent of UK drivers believed it should be compulsory to restrain dogs in cars when driving.

But further research showed that almost half of dog owners don’t restrain their pets and that more than 70 per cent of motorists do not realise they could be fined for not doing so.

Highway Code Rule 57 says that dogs and other animals must be suitably restrained while travelling in a vehicle.

The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) supports the safety message, a senior vet telling us: “Travelling with a pet brings with it many responsibilities. One of the most important is making sure that any pets are properly restrained.”

The RSPCA says: “We strongly recommend using a car harness to provide greater safety for dogs, drivers and their passengers during journeys. “ A well-designed harness allows a comfortable seating or standing position for the dog, with a seatbelt loop to suit all vehicle types.

Eyes on the road

Collision injury danger is not the only threat to motorists. Pets’ behaviour can cause drivers to take their eyes off the road, and a US study showed 16 per cent of fatal crashes in a single year involved distracted driving, with about 450,000 passengers being injured.

And pets may pose a threat to first responders.

If there is a crash, a frightened or injured animal may try to bite anyone who approaches the car. The natural protective instinct could hinder emergency services.